[Help to design] In the 41st millenium there is only...

ed_209a · 10-29-2009, 12:20 PM

Based on my limited 40K tabletop and novel experience, I would advise putting the rulebooks back on the shelf, and concentrate on the universe's fluff.

In a galaxy of trillions of humans (and billions of Imperial Guard), there are probably less than 50 thousand Space Marines. They have the best training, best biomods and best equipment the Imperium can provide. They are considered barely ready after nearly a decade of grueling training. And the 40K rules tell us they are only 3 times as effective in battle as a IG conscript with a kevlar jacket and a laser rifle?

I think Space Marines would only be called in when the IG can't solve a problem by simply throwing more men at it. Just from the numbers, it makes sense to throw a battalion of IG at a target rather than call a single space marine.

I would make the Space Marines truly monstrous, and then never let the players see them up close. A tactical squad of Adeptus Astartes don't attack, they happen, like a tornado or earthquake.

Have the PCs survive a battle only because their sector was on the edges of the objective. One day their officers get jumpy and nervous for some reason. Several days later, they see a single landing craft come down in the distance. The next day, the battle is won. Grizzled senior NCOs are overheard whispering "Astartes" among themselves.

(Really, the entire IG garrison would probably be wiped out before the SMs arrived, but it is a RPG...)

10-29-2009, 12:20 PM	#22
ed_209a Join Date: Sep 2004	Re: [Help to design] In the 41st millenium there is only... Based on my limited 40K tabletop and novel experience, I would advise putting the rulebooks back on the shelf, and concentrate on the universe's fluff. In a galaxy of trillions of humans (and billions of Imperial Guard), there are probably less than 50 thousand Space Marines. They have the best training, best biomods and best equipment the Imperium can provide. They are considered barely ready after nearly a decade of grueling training. And the 40K rules tell us they are only 3 times as effective in battle as a IG conscript with a kevlar jacket and a laser rifle? I think Space Marines would only be called in when the IG can't solve a problem by simply throwing more men at it. Just from the numbers, it makes sense to throw a battalion of IG at a target rather than call a single space marine. I would make the Space Marines truly monstrous, and then never let the players see them up close. A tactical squad of Adeptus Astartes don't attack, they happen, like a tornado or earthquake. Have the PCs survive a battle only because their sector was on the edges of the objective. One day their officers get jumpy and nervous for some reason. Several days later, they see a single landing craft come down in the distance. The next day, the battle is won. Grizzled senior NCOs are overheard whispering "Astartes" among themselves. (Really, the entire IG garrison would probably be wiped out before the SMs arrived, but it is a RPG...) __________________ “Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” - Robert E Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"